Stargazing Tour: Explore Southern Skies

Discover the universe at Mt John Observatory. Explore the Milky Way, distant galaxies, and more with expert guides in New Zealand’s premier stargazing experience.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Dark Sky Project - Meet the Dark Sky Project team in Lake Tekapo and journey to the top of Mount John, standing 1029 meters above Tekapo, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and lakes.
  • Mount John University Observatory - Delight in a stargazing adventure atop Mount John. With exclusive summit access, an expert astronomy…
What's Included
  • Return transport from Tekapo township
  • Telescope viewing through advanced observatory equipment
  • Guided naked-eye stargazing with laser pointers
  • Exclusive access to Mount John Observatory summit
  • Expert astronomy guides (English & Mandarin)
  • Extreme Cold Weather jackets provided
What's Not Included
  • Meals and snacks
  • Hotel pickup/drop-off
Additional Information

Our most popular astronomy experience at the world-renowned astronomical research centre. Prepare for an awe-inspiring evening of discovery.
Immerse yourself in the stunning surrounds, pristine night skies and sophisticated viewing technologies as our expert guides share the science and stories of our Southern Skies.
High atop Mount John’s 1,029 metre…

Location
Dark Sky Project
1 Motuariki Lane,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.4
(140 Ratings)
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1 star
Jake
Sep 3, 2025
Will be back - Booking had to be changed due to bad weather but we switched to the indoor experience as a result. Our guide, Kieran was very knowledgeable and interesting and made it fun, and the experience was a nice little substitute. Will definitely be back next time with hopefully better weather.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sam_e
Aug 30, 2025
This was an amazing... - This was an amazing experience!! Highly recommend. Got to look up at the sky with our bare eyes and also with some powerful telescopes. It was so cool and very accessible to people who don’t know much about stars. I believe our guides were named Kieran, Alice, and Olive - they were wonderful.
Review provided by Viator
Susanmilligan
Aug 9, 2025
Very good experience - We were really impressed with the customer service and the knowledge of the team who took care of us. On the night of our original booking, there were unfortunately too many clouds in the sky which meant we would only be able to see the moon (sometimes) and (maybe) a star. We were offered a refund or reschedule and opted to reschedule for the following evening. The sky heard we were on our way and cleared up in time for our tour! We had Andy looking after us. He was very knowledgeable and proudly shared some of this knowledge with us. The way that Andy explained things was easy to understand and follow. The other team members who showed us the telescopes were also lovely and knowledgeable. You can tell that the people who work here are happy and love their jobs - genuinely passionate people. We would recommend this tour to anyone who is happy to brave the cold and know that sometimes the weather just doesn’t want to play and you might not be able to do the tour - BUT know that the customer service is wonderful and will take care of you. Also, just a quick shout out to Liam who helped us with a van issue the next day! He’s a top bloke
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Venture21399284964
Jul 19, 2025
- Excellent programme, helpful and informative support crew at Observatory, reasonably priced and the weather was clear. Glad we went.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary
Jul 17, 2025
Amazing night sky on Mt John - Fantastic experience. We highly recommend! The enthusiasm of the young guides was great ! Great to look through the telescopes and see the moon, Saturn, Alpha Centauri and other stars and clusters of stars . Great to see the Southern Cross and other constellations so clearly shown !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suyi_shen
Jul 8, 2025
The snowy mountain night stargazing trip is very special~ - The Southern Cross in the Southern Hemisphere is not visible in the Northern Hemisphere. I heard that bad weather might also cancel the trip. The night mode takes a lot of beautiful pictures. The stars saw it too. It is recommended to keep one more day for yourself, this activity is worth a visit!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Katemckegg
Jun 29, 2025
Night sky comes to life - A fabulous experience. Well organised and professional. The night sky was spectacular and we learned so much about our galaxy and beyond. The night sky came to life tonight. Thank you @DarkSkyProjectNZ
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Caanaadaa
Jun 7, 2025
Worthwile. Book ahead! We booked over a month ahead for March. - This was a great way to enjoy the night sky. Enjoyed the talk about the sky, and the chance to see the sky through the telescopes. Also loved just sitting back in the bean bag chairs and staring up at the stars. If it's a cold night they provide you with coats.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sascha
Aug 21, 2025
Sensational visually beautiful - Visually sensational even to the naked eye. Well organised informative. Take the big red jacket because its freezing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
David_w
Jul 26, 2025
Unfortunately the... - Unfortunately the experience was cancelled because of cloud cover. We were unlucky, but that’s the luck of the draw. No one is to blame.
Review provided by Viator
From $124
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).